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The Conservatives were “starting from scratch” in Eastleigh and had little idea who their voters were or what issues they were interested in, according to MPs and campaign aides.

Maria Hutchings, the Conservative candidate, not only proved unable to topple the Liberal Democrats but was overtaken by UKIP after haemorrhaging votes to the Eurosceptic party.

Tory sources yesterday blamed weak local organisation and the Lib Dems’ strong activist base in the constituency. But the defeat raises questions as to why Conservative Campaign Headquarters was not better prepared for a by-election that political observers had thought possible for many months.